Texas executes Jamaal Howard by lethal injection in Huntsville
Jamaal Howard, 46, was executed by lethal injection on Wednesday at the state prison in Huntsville. He was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. after receiving pentobarbital. Howard was the first person executed in the United States since Tennessee's botched execution attempt of Christa Pike on September 30.
- Where
- Huntsville, Texas
- When
- Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2026
- Sources
- Reported by 5 outlets
Counties: Walker
Taxes and money
The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.
- Cash taken in robbery$1144 Who pays or receives it: Vickie Swartout convenience store
Who's involved
- Jamaal HowardDeath row inmate executed
- Vickie SwartoutConvenience store clerk killed by Howard in 2000
- Dr. Jeff HoodSpiritual advisor who spoke with Howard before execution
- U.S. Supreme CourtDenied stay request
- Texas Court of Criminal AppealsDenied stay request
- Brian HowardHoward's cousin
The facts
- Howard was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. after receiving pentobarbital at Huntsville state prison.3 4 5 Stated by 3 sources
- Howard was 46 years old at the time of execution.2 3 4 5 Stated by 4 sources
- Howard was convicted for fatally shooting 42-year-old Vickie Swartout in a May 2000 convenience store robbery in Silsbee.2 4 Stated by 2 sources
- Howard was 20 years old when he shot Swartout.4
- Howard had been on death row since 2001.4
- Howard was the first person executed in the United States since Christa Pike's botched execution on September 30.2 3 Stated by 2 sources
- Both Howard and Pike received pentobarbital during their executions.2 3 Stated by 2 sources
- U.S. Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied Howard's stay requests on Wednesday.4
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
- Jamaal Howard I wish you accept my apology. I'm sorry for what happened.4
- Dr. Jeff Hood Howard suffers from severe intellectual disability and lacks understanding of his execution.2
- Howard's attorneys Howard has an IQ score of 65, below the threshold of 70 for intellectual disability.2
- Brian Howard There was no justice for Jamaal and the county only sees Black and white.4
- Howard's attorneys They requested information about pentobarbital doses due to concerns from Pike's execution.4
Where the sources disagree
- Number of pentobarbital doses Howard received Two doses specified for Pike [3]; unknown for Howard [3]
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
'I Guess if the Drugs Don’t Work, They’ll Just Shoot Me in the Head'
Jamaal Howard breaks silence hours before Texas execution: “I guess if the drugs don’t work, they’ll just shoot me in the head”
The lethal injection drug used in Christa Pike’s botched execution was just used in Texas. A look at the two cases
Texas carries out first execution since Christa Pike’s botched lethal injection
Texas completes first execution in US since Pike survived lethal injections
Sources
Outlets: 1 left-leaning, 4 not rated Only left-leaning outlets reported this Who's covering Texas →
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
- 'I Guess if the Drugs Don’t Work, They’ll Just Shoot Me in the Head'
- Jamaal Howard breaks silence hours before Texas execution: “I guess if the drugs don’t work, they’ll just shoot me in the head”
- The lethal injection drug used in Christa Pike’s botched execution was just used in Texas. A look at the two cases
- Texas carries out first execution since Christa Pike’s botched lethal injection
- Texas completes first execution in US since Pike survived lethal injections
This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.